Slate.com ran a story addressing the controversy over raw (unpasteurized) milk consumption, which public health officials have linked to 85 infectious disease outbreaks from 1998-2008. Advocates for raw milk argue, however, that “nature’s perfect food” tastes better and that public health concerns are overblown. Raw milk is banned in some states, but those that allow it impose strict regulations on the farms that produce it.
Dr. Whelan sees raw milk as yet another example of how “all-natural” foods are not necessarily good for you. While Dr. Ross considers pasteurized milk to be safer, he wonders whether raw milk is directly linked to all of these disease outbreaks. “But the question is what should the government do about it? Should it be banned because it may increase the incidence of foodborne illness, or should informed consumers be allowed to use their own judgment?”
